Retrocarotid dissection technique compared to the caudocranial approach for the surgical treatment of carotid body tumors: A 15-year experience.

INTRODUCTION: Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasms with malignant potential. We aim to follow up on our initial experience published in 2015 and compare the occurrence of complications and postoperative outcomes with the use of retrocarotid dissection (RCD) against the standard caudocranial (SCCD) technique. METHODS: This was an observational, case-control study in which we analyzed all of the carotid body tumor resections performed from 1986 to 2022. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used accordingly. Statistical analysis was performed on Stata 17. RESULTS: A total of 181 surgical procedures were included, mean age was 56 years (± 13.63), and 168 (93%) were performed in women. The mean medio-lateral diameter was larger in the RCD group (2.85 ± 1.57 cm vs 1.93 ±1.85 cm; p = 0.002) and presurgical embolization was more frequently performed in the SCCD group (27.5% vs 0.7%; p < 0.001). A total of 40 (22.09%) resections were performed using the SCCD technique. In contrast, in 141 (77.91%) procedures the RCD technique was used. The mean surgical time in the RCD group was lower (197.37 ± 70.56 min vs 232 ± 98.34 min; p = 0.01). No statistically significant difference was found between SCCD and RCD in terms of vascular lesions (n = 20 [11.04%], 15% vs 9%, respectively; p = 0.36), transient or permanent nerve injuries (25% vs 33%, respectively; p = 0.31), or mean intraoperative bleeding (SCCD: 689.95 ± 680.05 mL vs RCD: 619.64 ± 837.94 mL; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RCD appears to be a safe and equivalent alternative to the standard caudocranial approach in terms of intraoperative bleeding or vascular lesions, with a sustained, significant decrease in surgical time.

It's not always postdural puncture headache: a case report and note to the astute anesthesiologist

Abstract Dural puncture is either diagnosed by unexpectedly profound response to medication test dose or development of a postpartum postural headache. Epidural blood patch is the gold standard for treatment of PDPH when conservative management fails. However, postpartum headaches can be resistant to multiple epidural blood patches. In such cases, preexisting intracranial processes should be considered and ruled out. We report here the unique case of a pregnant patient who developed a resistant headache in the postpartum period related to an incidental intracranial aneurysm. Subsequent treatment with endovascular embolization adequately relieved her symptoms. Early surgical consultation and a multidisciplinary team approach involving neurology and neuroimaging is required for successful management of patients such as the one described here.

It.ÇÖs not always postdural puncture headache: a case report and note to the astute anesthesiologist.

Dural puncture is either diagnosed by unexpectedly profound response to medication test dose or development of a postpartum postural headache. Epidural blood patch is the gold standard for treatment of PDPH when conservative management fails. However, postpartum headaches can be resistant to multiple epidural blood patches. In such cases, preexisting intracranial processes should be considered and ruled out. We report here the unique case of a pregnant patient who developed a resistant headache in the postpartum period related to an incidental intracranial aneurysm. Subsequent treatment with endovascular embolization adequately relieved her symptoms. Early surgical consultation and a multidisciplinary team approach involving neurology and neuroimaging is required for successful management of patients such as the one described here.

Tratamiento endovascular del aneurisma esplénico incidental y en la urgencia / Endovascular treatment of incidental and emergency splenic aneurysm

Resumen Los aneurismas esplénicos verdaderos son dilataciones saculares que involucran todas las capas de la arteria esplénica. Se presentan más frecuentemente en mujeres, en el embarazo y pacientes con hipertensión portal. Son habitualmente asintomáticos y diagnosticados incidentalmente durante el estudio de otra afección abdominal. Hasta un 10% se puede presentar con ruptura, lo que supone un escenario con una alta morbilidad y mortalidad. El tratamiento de los aneurismas esplénicos es aún un tema de controversia y existen variadas modalidades terapéuticas. Presentamos dos casos de pacientes con aneurismas esplénicos: uno de ellos que se manifestó con rotura y el otro por un diagnóstico incidental. Ambos fueron resueltos mediante embolización endovascular con resultados óptimos. Esta modalidad terapéutica poco difundida para el tratamiento de aneurismas esplénicos gigantes o rotos, nos permitió resolver el cuadro de forma segura y efectiva, con mínima morbilidad y mortalidad.

Abstract True splenic aneurysms are saccular dilations of all the layers of the splenic artery, more common in women, pregnancy and portal hypertension. They are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during the study of other abdominal diseases. Up to 10% may present with rupture, which implies a high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of splenic aneurysms is still a subject of controversy and there is a great variety of therapeutic modalities. We present two cases of patients with splenic aneurysms: one who presented with rupture and the other one incidentally diagnosed. Both were treated with endovascular embolization achieving optimal results. Although the utility of this therapy has not been assessed for giant or ruptured aneurysms, it allowed us to solve these scenarios in a secure and effective way, with minimum morbidity and mortality.

[Endovascular treatment of incidental and emergency splenic aneurysm]. / Tratamiento endovascular del aneurisma esplénico incidental y en la urgencia.

True splenic aneurysms are saccular dilations of all the layers of the splenic artery, more common in women, pregnancy and portal hypertension. They are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during the study of other abdominal diseases. Up to 10% may present with rupture, which implies a high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of splenic aneurysms is still a subject of controversy and there is a great variety of therapeutic modalities. We present two cases of patients with splenic aneurysms: one who presented with rupture and the other one incidentally diagnosed. Both were treated with endovascular embolization achieving optimal results. Although the utility of this therapy has not been assessed for giant or ruptured aneurysms, it allowed us to solve these scenarios in a secure and effective way, with minimum morbidity and mortality.

Los aneurismas esplénicos verdaderos son dilataciones saculares que involucran todas las capas de la arteria esplénica. Se presentan más frecuentemente en mujeres, en el embarazo y pacientes con hipertensión portal. Son habitualmente asintomáticos y diagnosticados incidentalmente durante el estudio de otra afección abdominal. Hasta un 10% se puede presentar con ruptura, lo que supone un escenario con una alta morbilidad y mortalidad. El tratamiento de los aneurismas esplénicos es aún un tema de controversia y existen variadas modalidades terapéuticas. Presentamos dos casos de pacientes con aneurismas esplénicos: uno de ellos que se manifestó con rotura y el otro por un diagnóstico incidental. Ambos fueron resueltos mediante embolización endovascular con resultados óptimos. Esta modalidad terapéutica poco difundida para el tratamiento de aneurismas esplénicos gigantes o rotos, nos permitió resolver el cuadro de forma segura y efectiva, con mínima morbilidad y mortalidad.

Fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares en un paciente pediátrico: un reporte de caso / Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in a pediatric patient: a case report

Las fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares son malformaciones congénitas dadas por la comunicación directa anómala entre arterias y venas, con una incidencia mundial de 2-3 : 100 000 habitantes. La presentación es, en general, única, asintomática, y aparecen en forma incidental como hallazgo imagenológico en la adultez, y su tratamiento de elección es la embolización endovascular.Se describe la inusual presentación clínica en una paciente de 10 años, que ingresó por disnea, tos, cianosis central y cefalea. Se encontró hipoxemia persistente, hipocratismo digital, nódulos parahiliares pulmonares, gases arteriales con gradiente alvéolo-arterial aumentado. La tomografía axial computarizada de tórax de alta resolución confirmó la presencia de una malformación arteriovenosa pulmonar en la región parahiliar derecha, la cual no se asociaba con la enfermedad de Rendu-Osler-Weber. La paciente fue tratada con embolización endovascular transcutánea. Tras 1,5 años de seguimiento, no hubo recaídas. Son pocos los casos reportados de estas fístulas en la edad pediátrica

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas are congenital malformations due to anomalous direct communication between arteries and veins; the incidence is 2-3 : 100,000 inhabitants. This condition is usually asymptomatic and incidentally appearing in adult imaging findings. Transcutaneous endovascular embolization is the technique of choice for treatment. The unusual presentation in a 10-year-old patient is described; she was presented to the Emergency Department with dyspnea, cough, central cyanosis and headache. The examination revealed persistent hypoxemia and digital clubbing; chest X-ray with images suggestive of parahilar nodules, arterial blood gases with increased alveolar arterial gradient. The high resolution computed tomography of the thorax revealed pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in the right parahilar region not associated with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. The patient was treated with transcutaneous endovascular embolization, and after a year and a half of follow-up there were no relapses. There are few reported cases of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in the pediatric age.

[Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in a pediatric patient: a case report]. / Fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares en un paciente pediátrico: un reporte de caso.

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas are congenital malformations due to anomalous direct communication between arteries and veins; the incidence is 2-3 : 100,000 inhabitants. This condition is usually asymptomatic and incidentally appearing in adult imaging findings. Transcutaneous endovascular embolization is the technique of choice for treatment. The unusual presentation in a 10-year-old patient is described; she was presented to the Emergency Department with dyspnea, cough, central cyanosis and digital clubbing; chest X-ray with images suggestive of parahilar nodules, arterial blood gases with increased alveolar arterial gradient. The high resolution computed tomography of the thorax revealed pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in the right parahilar region not associated with Rendu-Osler- Weber disease. The patient was treated with transcutaneous endovascular embolization, and after a year and a half of follow-up there were no relapses. There are few reported cases of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in the pediatric age.

Las fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares son malformaciones congénitas dadas por la comunicación directa anómala entre arterias y venas, con una incidencia mundial de 2-3 : 100 000 habitantes. La presentación es, en general, única, asintomática, y aparecen en forma incidental como hallazgo imagenológico en la adultez, y su tratamiento de elección es la embolización endovascular. Se describe la inusual presentación clínica en una paciente de 10 años, que ingresó por disnea, tos, cianosis central y cefalea. Se encontró hipoxemia persistente, hipocratismo digital, nódulos parahiliares pulmonares, gases arteriales con gradiente alvéolo-arterial aumentado. La tomografía axial computarizada de tórax de alta resolución confirmó la presencia de una malformación arteriovenosa pulmonar en la región parahiliar derecha, la cual no se asociaba con la enfermedad de Rendu-Osler-Weber. La paciente fue tratada con embolización endovascular transcutánea. Tras 1,5 años de seguimiento, no hubo recaídas. Son pocos los casos reportados de estas fístulas en la edad pediátrica.

Safety of Onyx Transarterial Embolization of Skull Base Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas from Meningeal Branches of the External Carotids also Fed by Meningeal Branches of Internal Carotid or Vertebral Arteries.

PURPOSE: To analyze the angiographic and clinical results of transarterial embolization with Onyx (Medtronic-Covidien, Irvine, CA) in dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) partially fed by arteries arising from the carotid siphon or the vertebral arteries. METHODS: We isolated 40 DAVFs supplied by either the tentorial artery of the internal carotid artery (ICA) or the posterior meningeal artery of the vertebral artery. These DAVFs were embolized with Onyx through the middle meningeal artery or the occipital artery. We reviewed the occurrence of reflux into the arteries of carotid or vertebral origin. RESULTS: In all the cases, reflux occurred into the first millimeters of the DAVF arterial feeders arising from carotid or vertebral arteries but slowly enough to be controlled by interruption of Onyx injection. Reflux was always minimal and Onyx never reached the ostium of the arteries. No cerebral ischemic complications occurred in our series. CONCLUSION: The behavior of Onyx is clearly different from that of cyanoacrylate glue, resulting in superior control during injection. Reflux into arteries arising from the ICA or vertebral artery during DAVF treatment always carries a risk of unintentional non-target embolization of normal cerebral vasculature but Onyx appears to be safe in this situation.

Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: Primary ONYX Embolization in ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations)-Eligible Patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In light of evidence from ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations), neurovascular specialists had to reconsider deliberate treatment of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (uBAVMs). Our objective was to determine the outcomes of uBAVM treated with primary embolization using ethylene vinyl alcohol (ONYX). METHODS: Patients with uBAVM who met the inclusion criteria of ARUBA and were treated with primary Onyx embolization were assigned to this retrospective study. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale score. Secondary outcomes were stroke or death because of uBAVM or intervention and uBAVM obliteration. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients (mean age, 38 years) were included. The median observation period was 60 months. Patients were treated by embolization alone (41.0%), embolization and radiosurgery (57.4%), or embolization and excision (1.6%). Occlusion was achieved in 44 of 57 patients with completed treatment (77.2%). Forty-seven patients (77.1%) had no clinical impairment at the end of observation (modified Rankin Scale score of <2). Twelve patients (19.7%) reached the outcome of stroke or death because of uBAVM or intervention. Treatment-related mortality was 6.6% (4 patients). CONCLUSIONS: In uBAVM, Onyx embolization alone or combined with stereotactic radiosurgery achieves a high occlusion rate. Morbidity remains a challenge, even if it seems lower than in the ARUBA trial.

Oclusión percutánea de la vena vertical con un Amplatzer® Vascular Plug: Informe de un caso / Endovascular occlusion of the vertical vein with an Amplatzer® Vascular Plug: Case report

El uso del Amplatzer® Vascular Plug (St. Jude Medical-Minnesota, EE. UU.) se ha diversificado y ha sido descrito con éxito en diferentes escenarios clínicos. Se describe otra aplicación para este dispositivo, presentando el caso de una paciente con antecedente de corrección de conexión anómala total de venas pulmonares a quien se le realizó oclusión de una vena vertical permeable con un Amplatzer® Vascular Plug.

The use of the Amplatzer® Vascular Plug has diversified and has been described successfully in different clinical settings. We describe another application for this device, presenting the case of a patient with a history of correction of total anomalous connection of pulmonary veins, who underwent occlusion of the unligated vertical vein with the Amplatzer® Vascular Plug.

Endovascular embolization by parent artery reconstruction of a symptomatic fusiform posterior cerebral artery aneurysm using Onyx HD-500: a neurointerventional report.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Posterior cerebral artery aneurysms are treatment challenge for the neurosurgeon. Parent artery occlusion, trapping and bypass have been the classic treatment options for aneurysms in this location. With the introduction of newer embolic agents such as Onyx®, endovascular intervention is now a viable therapy for these aneurysms. CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 60-year-old man who presented with a symptomatic, though unruptured, fusiform left posterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Given the distal location of this dominant sided aneurysm, post-operative visual deficits and aphasia were a concern if parent vessel occlusion were to be performed. Therefore, an endovascular reconstruction using Onyx HD-500 and two closed-cell stents was performed. CONCLUSIONS: This report illustrates the ability of a high-density liquid embolic agent to provide immediate reconstruction of a fusiform aneurysm in a distal location.

Endovascular embolization of carotid-cavernous fistulas: A pioneering experience in Peru.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular embolization represents the method of choice for the treatment of carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs). METHODS: We report our experience using the endovascular technique in 24 patients harboring 25 CCFs treated between October 1994 and April 2010, with an emphasis on the role of detachable balloons for the treatment of direct CCFs. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients who presented with direct CCFs (Barrow Type A CCFs) (age range, 7-62 years; mean age, 34.3 years), 14 were caused by traumatic injury and 2 by a ruptured internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm. Eight patients (age range, 32-71 years; mean age, 46.5 years) presented with nine indirect CCFs (Barrow Types B, C, and D). The clinical follow-up after endovascular treatment ranged from 2 to 108 months (mean, 35.2 months). In two cases (8%), the endovascular approach failed. Symptomatic complications related to the procedure occurred in three patients (12.5%): transient cranial nerve palsy in two patients and a permanent neurological deficit in one patient. Detachable balloons were used in 13 out of 16 (81.3%) direct CCFs and were associated with a cure rate of 92.3%. Overall, the angiographic cure rate was obtained in 22 out of 25 (88%) fistulas. Patients presenting with III nerve palsy improved gradually between 1 day and 6 months after treatment. Good clinical outcomes [modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤ 2] were observed in 22 out of 24 (91.6%) patients at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment using detachable balloons still constitutes a safe and effective method to treat direct carotid-cavernous fistulas.